Some people are rather nonchalant about the phenomenon of being bitten by a tick. But if you delve a little into the topic of the risk of infection from such bites, then we can conclude that there is something to worry about. The consequence of walking along forest paths can be a disease called borreliosis. In children and adults, it can cause equally dangerous symptoms, which, if not properly treated, can even lead to disability.
What is meant by tick-borne borreliosis?
Tick-borne borreliosis, also called Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease. It is transmitted through the bite of an ixodid tick. The development of this disease leads to the defeat of various systems and organs. It can be the heart, nervous system, skin or joints. This natural-focal chronic infection took its name from the causative agent of the disease - the Borrelia microorganism. Such a diagnosis was first established in 1975 among residents of the town of Lyme in the United States.
If you detect signs of borreliosis in time and start treatment with antibiotics, then the chances of a trouble-free recovery will be quite high. If the diagnosis determines Lyme disease onlate stage and after that illiterate therapy will be carried out, borreliosis can go into an intractable chronic form. Therefore, do not take a tick bite lightly.
Causes of occurrence
A tick (borreliosis infects this particular insect) is a carrier of three types of microorganisms that can be causative agents of an infectious disease. Those who wish to protect themselves from such a diagnosis as Lyme disease should be attentive to the bites of ixodid ticks, which become infected while sucking the blood of infected animals. Such mites are most often found in temperate zones, especially in areas occupied by mixed forests. As endemic zones where there is a danger of getting a dangerous bite, one can define the central and western regions of Russia: Western Siberia, the Urals, the Far East. The causative agent of borreliosis is also found in some parts of Europe and the USA.
In late spring and early summer, ticks are most active. For this reason, the maximum number of people become infected with borreliosis during this period. It is also worth knowing that the infection can enter the bloodstream not only with a bite, but also during the rupture of the tick, which occurs due to its improper removal.
There are also chances of catching the disease through alimentary transmission. We are talking about the use of dairy products without prior heat treatment. Especially dangerous in this regard is raw goat's milk. At the same time, the disease borreliosis is not transmitted from oneinfected person to another. But if a tick bites a pregnant woman, then intrauterine transmission of the infection can lead to miscarriages, various congenital anomalies, and even the death of the baby. Therefore, for those who are expecting a baby, it is better to stay away from potential infection zones in the spring and summer.
Mechanism of disease progression
As mentioned above, the actual infection itself occurs only after the tick has been bitten. Borreliosis, or to be more precise, the causative microorganism, enters the nearest lymph nodes and begins to multiply there. A few days later, Borrelia enter the bloodstream and are carried throughout the body with it.
The incubation period of the disease is from 7 to 14 days from the moment of the tick bite. The direct effect of Borrelia on the lymph nodes can result in generalized lymphadenopathy.
As a result, the infection enters the muscles, central nervous system, joints, heart and can stay there for quite a long time, continuing to multiply. And even despite the fact that the immune system actively produces antibodies in order to destroy hostile microorganisms, it is not possible to completely get rid of the disease. Here lies another danger: the immune complexes, the appearance of which was caused by the causative agent of borreliosis, are the cause of the launch of the autoimmune process. This means that the antibodies no longer attack the virus, but the tissues of the body that they were originally supposed to protect.
Lyme disease: symptoms
The development of this infectious disease can be divided into several stages:
- Incubation period (time from infection to first symptoms).
- I stage. It begins at the moment when microorganisms begin to multiply in the lymph nodes.
- II stage. It corresponds to the phase when Borrelia spread throughout the body along with the blood.
- Stage III. It can be defined as chronic. During this period, a specific system (musculoskeletal or nervous) is affected.
I and II stages are considered the early period of the development of the disease, and stage III is defined as the late period. At the same time, this division is conditional, since there is no clear moment of transition between them.
First stage
Signs of borreliosis at this stage have both local and general manifestations. Common symptoms include nausea, fever (38 °C), headache, chills, general malaise, aches and pains in the joints and muscles. In some cases, catarrhal phenomena are possible: coughing, sore throat and sore throat, slight runny nose.
As for local symptoms, these signs are as follows: at the site where the bite was made, there is swelling, redness and itching. The formation of annular erythema also occurs, which manifests itself in more than half of those bitten (70%). It looks like a dense red formation, expanding over several days. From the side, the form of erythemalooks like a red ring. At the same time, in the very center, the place where the bite was made remains noticeable: it is much paler. The round or oval shape of the redness can have a diameter of 10 to 60 mm.
As for discomfort, their annular erythema does not deliver. Only in rare cases, redness bakes and itches. The first stage can last from several days to several months. But in most cases, it has to be observed for an average of 30 days.
Second stage
Expanding the topic: "Tick-borne borreliosis: symptoms and treatment", it is worth paying attention to the stage at which the infection begins to affect the heart, skin, joints and nervous system. The duration of this stage can also be several months. By the time this stage of the development of the disease occurs, the symptoms characteristic of the first period disappear. Cases have been recorded when ixodid tick-borne borreliosis began immediately from the second stage without the manifestation of a general infectious syndrome and annular erythema.
Damage to the nervous system at this stage can be determined by the following signs: destructive processes occur in the cranial nerves and spinal nerve roots (defined as radiculopathy).
It is also possible to develop serous meningitis, which is nothing more than inflammation of the meninges. It is manifested by increased sensitivity to stimuli, moderate headache, photophobia, severe fatigue and muscle tension in the back of the head. Anothera symptom of meningitis can be insomnia.
As for the cranial nerves, the facial one is most often affected. The fact of the defeat will be evidenced by paralysis of the facial muscles: food falls out of the mouth, the eyes do not fully open, and the face looks noticeably skewed. Often a bilateral lesion is recorded, in which the work of one side of the face is initially disrupted and a few days or weeks later - the second. In addition to the facial, destructive processes can affect the auditory and optic nerves. This can be expressed in the form of strabismus, impaired hearing, vision and impaired movement of the eyeballs.
Considering tick-borne borreliosis, the consequences of which can be more than noticeable, it is worth noting that the roots of the spinal nerves, in the event of a lesion, make themselves felt with a palpable shooting pain, which is directed from top to bottom in the area of the limbs, and in the torso area takes on a girdle character.
Third stage
This period of disease development can occur even several years after the bite. At this stage, borreliosis has the following consequences: atrophic acrodermatitis, damage to the nervous system (encephalopathy, polyneuropathy and encephalomyelitis), chronic arthritis.
In most cases, one specific system is affected: the joints, the nervous system, or the skin. But if the disease is not fought, then in the process of development it can lead to a combined damage to the systems.
When, against the background of an infection such as ixodid tick-borne borreliosis,chronic arthritis develops, then a devastating effect can be exerted on both large and small joints. In this case, the cartilage tissue will most likely begin to thin, deforming processes will appear in the joints, and osteoporosis will develop in the bone structure. Nearby muscle fibers will also be involved in the process of stable destruction (chronic myositis).
Nervous system damage in the third stage can manifest itself in many ways. It is possible to develop paresthesia, increase or decrease in sensitivity, the occurrence of various pains and even paresis. It makes sense to expect violations of mental (memory, intellect) and coordinating functions (balance). Hearing may also be affected. Do not exclude disorders of the pelvic organs and the appearance of epileptic seizures. It is worth noting the fact that most patients experience lethargy, severe fatigue and emotional distress.
Chronic Lyme disease
If you ignore the treatment process and allow the infection to freely affect the body, then tick-borne borreliosis will go into a chronic stage. With this form of the disease, a stable undulating deterioration will be observed. If we highlight the most common clinical syndromes that develop in the chronic form of borreliosis, then you should pay attention to the following diseases:
- atrophic acrodermatitis;
- various forms of arthritis;
- damage to the nervous system with the involvement of any of its structures in the process (in this case, there can be many foci of destruction);
- lymphocytomas.
Treatment
If tick-borne borreliosis was suspected, the patient should be immediately hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital. Especially if a child is hurt. Borreliosis in children can lead to serious complications. And only with the participation of professional physicians is it possible to conduct complex therapy, the purpose of which is the destruction of the causative agents of Lyme disease. It is worth remembering that without full and timely treatment, borreliosis can lead to disability.
In this case, the treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics can be defined as the most effective method of influencing harmful microorganisms. The good news is that if the infection is suppressed with antibacterial drugs at the first stage, there is every chance to avoid the development of cardiac neurological and arthrological complications.
For this reason, treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics should begin as soon as possible.
If we talk about the early stage of infection, it is worth noting that during this period, the drug "Amoxicillin" is used to neutralize the disease. This therapy lasts about 20-30 days. Actively used in the initial stage and "Tetracycline". If you do not act on erythema, then it can go away within a month, but when borreliosis is treated with antibiotics, the ring redness can go much earlier.
Repeatedly proven to be effective anddrugs such as doxycycline. It is most relevant for those patients who have developed skin diseases (benign skin lymphoma, erythema migrans).
Those who have had damage to the nervous system in the second stage are prescribed penicillin. At the first stage, it is effective in the occurrence of fixed arthralgia and myalgia. Ceftriaxone can be identified as the most relevant antibiotic from the cephalosporin group. Its use is recommended for both early and late neurological disorders. This drug is also relevant for those patients who, on the background of Lyme disease, have developed a high degree of artrioventricular blockade or arthritis, including chronic arthritis.
In general, the treatment of borreliosis with antibiotics has proven to be exceptionally good.
Preventive measures
Lyme disease is too serious a diagnosis to be ignored. Therefore, if possible, the best option is to avoid infection and prevent the unpleasant process of a serious infection affecting the body.
Prevention of borreliosis involves staying in areas where ticks can live, wearing closed shoes and clothing that completely covers the body (long trousers, trousers with drawstrings, sleeves with cuffs). It will not be superfluous to use repellents that can repel ticks.
If it so happened that the tick got on the skin and managed to be absorbed, then you should immediately visit the infectious diseases department of the nearest hospital. They will takeblood for borreliosis and establish whether infection has taken place. Conducting tests, and without delay, is a necessary measure that cannot be ignored. Otherwise, you will have to face very serious symptoms. Therefore, you should immediately use the recommended medicines. Prevention of borreliosis will be more effective if, after a bite, take 2 tablets of the drug "Doxycycline" per day for 5 days.
It is obvious that Lyme disease, with all its destructive potential, can be defeated without much complications if the infected person quickly seeks help from doctors and follows their recommendations.
So, we looked at tick-borne borreliosis, the symptoms and treatment of this infection and possible preventive measures. Take good care of your he alth!
